The Storm

We love that moment in movies when an unlikely hero fulfills the destiny foretold about them—King Arthur pulls out Excalibur, Frodo carries the ring, and Harry defeats Voldemort. These stories rip a page out of Jesus’ book. Psalm 107 follows a pattern where people find themselves in a hopeless situation, they cry out to the Lord, He delivers them, and the people respond in praise. Specifically, in Mark 4 verses 23–30 the Lord must rescue the disciples from a raging storm. With Psalm 107 lingering in the background of this miracle, Jesus’ calming of the storm drips with fulfillment. Only the Lord can rebuke a raging storm. What must that make Jesus?

Not only does this story demonstrate the lordship of Jesus over nature, Mark also includes it to show how the disciples whiffed in this episode. So far in Mark the disciples have seen Jesus heal the sick, exorcise a demon, and teach about the kingdom. Yet, in the face of a very real storm, they panic and lash out at Jesus. His rebuke reminds the disciples they don’t ultimately have a storm problem; they have a faith problem. We have faith problems too. We know Jesus possesses a comprehensive lordship, or as Abraham Kuyper puts it, “There is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry, Mine!” Yet, we sometimes fail to see Jesus sitting on His throne as King over the kingdom when we see storms right in front of us. Let this story remind you that when storms rise all around you, look to the throne. Jesus is always on it.

We have already seen that if Jesus is in fact the Messiah, then He must have power like that of His Father. Mark, in the next few sections, ratchets up the demonstrations of Christ’s power over nature, demons, disease, and even death. After each demonstration of power, we are forced to ask, “Who is this Christ?” This moment when Jesus calms the storm is no exception. What must be true about Jesus if with the words of His mouth He can rebuke a raging storm?

The disciples respond in fear—a common response of people near Christ. Power—ultimate power—elicits fear in even the strongest of warriors. Christ’s power transforms from frightening to comforting when we trust that He will always wield His power with love and goodness accompanying it. Ultimate power is only good in the hands of an ultimately good Savior.

Christ’s power over the storm tells us that His sovereignty reigns over our hopeless situations. We have someone we can cry out to in times of trouble. And, let us, like the people in Psalm 107, respond in praise to Jesus’ power.